The "So Who Are These People That Ride In Buggies? - Part IV" Story

It was an ordinary day.  A weekday in November and Carol and I are heading to Chesapeake City for lunch along the C&D Canal.  The day is beautiful with just a touch of chill in the air.  After reaching Quarryville we continue south towards the Lancaster County border when we see an Amish farm off to the left that has close to fifty buggies lined along the lane to the farm.  In a nearby field are about the same amount of horses enjoying what grass remains from the summer harvest.  

Buggies line the lane into the farm for a wedding.

Carol looks at me and says, "Someone is getting hitched today."  Happens often this time of year after harvest season.  In the Old Order Amish there are no arranged marriages and marriage is for life.  Pairings begin to happen in the fall at church community events as well as Sunday evening singings.  A young Amish boy makes his choice and takes her to his farm to meet his parents before taking back to her home.  He will more than likely make arrangements to visit her again in the next week or two.  Their relationship is secretive until they announce in a few days to a few weeks before their marriage is "published".  In Lancaster County the '"publishing" is done by a church deacon while in other Amish communities a bishop may do that.  Now, I have noticed for years that during the spring and early summer, when my grandson's baseball team plays at locations which may be near heavily populated Amish areas, that large groups of young Amish men gather to play baseball  on fields near where my grandson plays.  Naturally there are large groups of young Amish girls who show up to watch the baseball game.  The Amish boys will sit on one side of the field while the girls sit on the opposite side.  A few times I have walked closeby to watch the games and notice both boys and girls pointing and smiling at the opposite sideline.  My guess is they are beginning to make their selection.  I don't believe that young men and women marry outside their Amish heritage.  The wedding takes place at the bride's home with hundreds of guests in attendance.  The wedding naturally includes a feast for the guests.  Old Order Mennonite weddings are usually held in homes while other Mennonite groups will get married in a church.  Weddings are traditionally held on Tuesday or Thursday when field work is not as demanding.  The service may take more than four hours and usually begins early in the morning.  The wedding includes hymns, a long sermon on marriage illustrated from the Bible, simple vows, testimonies from church leaders and extended prayer.  There are no photographs allowed, no rings, no kissing, no flowers, no fancy dresses or suits or expensive caterers.  After the service, lunch is served  consisting of chicken, filling, mashed potatoes and gravy, ham, relishes, canned fruit, cakes, pies and cookies.  The bride and groom eat first while sitting in the Eck (corner) of the living room.  After the first group eats, the next group enters the living room and eats.  This is continued until all are fed.  Singing takes place most of the day and when dinner is served, the same routine takes place once again.  In the Amish community, marriage signals the beginning of responsibilities for the new family.  Both husband and wife work on the farm.  Children are taught to be disciplined, respectful and obedient.  Chores are assigned to everyone in the family.  Menus for the family follow the seasonal harvests.  As far as using a doctor if your children become ill, Amish and Mennonites do not oppose modern medicine.  Medical fields are one that may be entered by the Amish that do not farm the fields.  Faith healing and home remedies are usually not the norm for the Amish.  When a person dies in an Amish community, that death is felt by all.  The church family provides monetary support for the burial, wood coffin and funeral service.  

Amish graveyard along a road in Lancaster County.

Local funeral directors usually do only the embalming, but may supply the coffin.  The body is dressed in white and a viewing is in the home.  The service has no eulogies or music.  Hymns are spoken.  The gravesite is hand-dug and no flowers are used.  A simple headstone  may mark the spot.  Following the funeral, everyone gathers to eat together.  Most Amish and Mennonite communities are growing.  I have noticed that many farms in Lancaster County have changed hands in the past generation and are being purchased by Old
Order Amish and Mennonites.  As I said before, if you can see electrical lines heading down a farm lane, it is not Amish.  But, I at times notice small sheds along the road in front of Amish farms.  They hold telephones which are used in case of emergencies.  The Amish may not look kindly on worldly things, but they aren't stupid and know they may at time need help.  Self-preservation is a way of life for all.  Tomorrow's final tale will tell you a bit more about the Lancaster County Amish according to an expert on the sect.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.